If I am not mistaken, the kid is only 20 years old and is playing with more confidence than Youhana and Inzi combined in this Aussie tour. Commentators are comparing him with saeed Anwar in making. I would fully agree with it. The strokes he plays are not the strokes of a typical Paki player i.e Darr Darr Kaye Khailna. He goes after the ball and the best of all, his shot selection is impecable.
Yasir Hameed is an excellent player, his drives are my favorite, but Salman Butt is brutal. He is not scared of who is coming to him, he just stands and delivers. I yet have to see him getting out for any stupid shot. Even in this last match, the shot was slightly miss cued.
INdeed.. i was impressed when he played junior levels... and i told ma frdz that this guy is gonna be a gr8 player when i saw him in zimbabwe series. Very wristy player and sweet timer of the ball.
At least he won’t be like Mr. Afridi who has to prove himself after he gets jootay on his head and does 50/25 etc. Butt might be nakara after a while but at least appreciate him for now when he IS playing pretty well.
He’s already proved himself. Every one can see he is one talented kid. PCB needs to stick with him for a long period of time. He’s got what it takes to be successful batsman.
As far as best find as an opener is concerned I will agree that he is the best find after Saeed Anwar. He is as fearless as Saeed was. But I will also agree with Faisal that he will need to be consistant in coming series as well to prove himself. He has proven himself 50% already by performing against Kangroos at their own soil. Mashallah. He just needs to think of the failures and/or mix performances of Farhat (now offically a parchi), Yasir, Taufeeq, Hafeez, Bazid, Faisal Iqbal and Wajahat Ullah Warsi. Some of them were very good in their first chances, but then they took it for granted, hence a case of self-exposure and failure. Others are not that consistant which is required on Intl level.
I wish him best of luck and hope that he will beat the hell out of McGrath, Gillispe, Jaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan. :k:
You know bro, all I have to say, IF and I mean IF Salman Butt keep’s on performing and Yasir stops playing abnormally, We will have one of the best oppenning stands after Aus or perhaps Eng at this moment. I am really looking forward to the match against WI, its been a long time we won a match. Tomorrow’s match and ‘Boyz’ performance will tell ’ Koun Kitney Pani Mein Haye’.
he does look to be playing only on the off-side....
i remember imran nazir playing wonderfully on the off-side (perhaps the best u can see)....
but he struggles with balls that come into him....
i haven't seen salman play much on the leg-side....
i hope thats not a weakness....
but the way he uses his wrists, i dont think leg-side shots wud be a problem for him....
his placement seems to be very good too....
Majority (if not all) of Pakistani openers initially succeed on home soil and then go on to struggle abroad. Biggest plus Salman Butt has that he clicked in the toughest tour first up which IS a new for Pakistan cricket.
^ Yep I agree. Also, even past "greats" have struggled abroad more than home, I really wish him best of luck and hope that he keeps performing like this in future!
Ditto ^^